Traveling is good for the soul. Meeting old friends, catching up with business associates and spending time with family and friends is wonderful. Doing what I do, I can't help but look at gardens and flowers while on the road. I just returned from a fantastic vacation in Bar Harbor. Their cooler days and nights seem to bring out the colors of summer annuals, perennials and roses so well. Maybe it's because they have such a short season, but New England does one heckuva job in their gardens.
Maine is all about lobstah, rugged shorelines,beautiful ocean and island views, moose,(I've yet to see one) and wild blueberries. I generally get up there about every 4 years or so, but was able to travel there last November and this July. Look at some of the pictures and you'll see why I love it so. Here are a few photos; I'll be adding more later.
I had the chance to visit The Big D earlier this month to network with garden writers, photographers and radio and TV personalities. We attended various classes about social media, blogging and connecting via new media with gardeners. The "buzz" was all about community gardening and sustainability. So many of the attendees are incredibily talented. I will link to some of their sites to let you see great artists and communicators in action. Thanks to Bill and Andy Foard for sending me to Dallas.
See some of the beautiful gardens we visited. Especially inspiring was the Dallas Arboretum, with some wonderfully creative displays featuring pumpkins and crotons mingled with annuals, tropicals and perennials.
Here are some photos from a daytrip I recently took to Harper's Ferry, WV. What a neat place for nature lovers, Civil War buffs, train guys and arts and crafts afficianados. Lucky for us, it was a relatively quiet day, but do check out the kids playing army. It was a great way to spend an afternoon.
We've had a short respite from extraordinary high temperatures that will be back soon enough. It's given me a chance to catch my breath and step back from watering pots everyday. I can't get over how well tropical plants like hibiscus and mandevilla are doing. The blooms just keep on coming. Two Trade Winds hibiscus are sitting on my back patio blooming their fool heads off. And, in a pic I'll post this weekend, both the red and white mandevillas are going to town in a large pot in front of my home.
So I've gotten a little behind in posting. I have very much enjoyed all the garden clubs and organizations I have had the honor of speaking to these last couple of months. It's go time now in the greenhouse. I'll post some pics later this week.
